|
Career Strategy
Cover Letters
The Purpose of a Cover Letter
"The entire focus of every letter you write to any prospective employer is
this: what's in it for them? What can you bring to the table for them? Why should
they want to meet you? That's the only thing that matters." Guerrilla Tactics
for Getting The Legal Job of Your Dreams, Kimm Alayne Walton, p. 172 (emphasis
in the original).
How to Prepare Your Cover Letter
- Know Your Audience
You absolutely, positively must make some effort to know something about the
people or organizations that you are contacting. Make every effort to find a
mutual acquaintance. If you have trouble coming up with someone on your own,
contact Career Services or search for an alum of Villanova Law or your own undergraduate
school. Find someone who can say "send your resume to Suzy Q and tell them that
I sent you."
Also, try to find some piece of hard information about that employer. All you
need is one tidbit or news item that's unique to that organization or person
to demonstrate that you've done your homework and that you have a sincere interest
in that particular employer.
In addition, see if you can use your network to find inside (positive) information
that the organization is proud of, and would consider a "best kept secret."
For example, if you know that the employer dearly prizes its collegial, team-oriented
environment, mention that you know about this trait and value it yourself.
- Keep Your Audience Reading
The opening sentence - certainly the opening paragraph - must convince the reader
that there is some reason to keep on reading. Your reader needs to know right
away "why should I finish this letter?"
- Mutual Acquaintances are Your Ideal Bet
Some attorneys report that the primary thing - sometimes the only thing
-- that they look for in a cover letter is whether they know the author,
or whether the author was referred by someone that the attorney knows. If
one of your contacts says "tell them I sent you," then tell them who sent
you!! It may be the best way to "hook" your reader.
In addition, your mutual acquaintance can sometimes give you advice on
specifically who you should direct your resume, i.e., he or she may have
inside scoop on who's likely to respond most favorably and/or advocate most
effectively about your application.
- Targeted Mailings can be Effective - Generic "Mass Mailings" Usually
Aren't
If you can't locate referrals or mutual acquaintances for all of your targeted
organizations, then use a fact or other "hook" that shows you've really
noticed that employer.
Notice that we do not advise generic "mass mailings." Career experts agree
that "mass mailings" sent indiscriminately to huge numbers of employers
without any specific plan or forethought are not effective. Why? No employer
wants to feel like just another name on a mail-merge. Also, mass mailings
give you a false sense of security that you've taken concrete steps with
your job search - when really, your chances of success are much better if
you use other methods. For example, experts agree that most people are better
off with fewer really targeted letters instead of hundreds of generic, untargeted
ones. Finally, the more generic letters you send, the more generic rejections
you may receive - and that may damage your outlook, which needs to be positive
and optimistic to stay in the game.
- Answer this Question: "Why Should the Reader Meet You?"
Talk about specific qualities about yourself that will make your audience think,
"I really should give this person a shot." Don't simply regurgitate the facts
that are stated in your resume. Rather, draw out the inferences or the conclusions
that you believe your resume facts actually support or prove. Demonstrate how
your experiences have made you a better, more qualified candidate for employment.
Here are some tips:
Support statements about yourself with proof. Ask yourself "I'm a good writer
because….." or "I'm good at juggling many deadlines because…" or "I'm a self-starter
because….." and back up your contentions.
Demonstrate and prove your commitment to the geographic location you've targeted.
Particularly if you're targeting an area where you didn't attend school or grow
up, you must provide a reason for why you're interested in that locale. Such
reasons could include: close friends, family, growth potential, recent "good
press," reputation in a particular practice area or segment of the economy,
history, or cultural background.
Show that you've researched your potential employer. Communicate something
that you've learned about that specific organization or one of its attorneys.
Communicate that you're a living, breathing person. If you're at a loss for
words, try digging up your personal statement to get into law school, or your
journal or diary, prior employer evaluations, or comments from professors or
teachers.
Only "apologize" for grades (or anything else) if you're sure that the employer
is fanatical about grades and you're sure that your grades are likely to be
highly scrutinized. In general your cover letter is a marketing piece, not a
"mea culpa." Acknowledge your perceived weakness and explain it away. Turn your
disappointment into a positive experience that the employer will find compelling.
For example, describe the concerted efforts you took to dissect your "hook"
in Civ Pro, the diligence with which you worked to improve your performance,
and how that has made you a better law student overall. Or, talk about how you've
compensated by getting great practical experience or leadership opportunities
in extracurriculars.
- Tell the Reader What You Want to Happen Next
This is where you explicitly advise what you plan to do next, and what you'd
like the reader to do. For example: Out of town interview - Tell the reader when you'll be in town and that
you'd appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss the possibility of a position
(summer or otherwise). Give several weeks lead time. Or, tell the reader that
you'd be available to travel to the area during specified times or at their
convenience. Meeting or call to discuss possible opportunities - For example, "I would
appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my background may fit your needs."
Or, "I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your convenience, either
at your office or before the workday."
Consider stating that you'll contact the reader to follow up - but then
make sure to FOLLOW UP! Saying you'll follow up puts the ball in your court,
so you may feel this is too assertive. On the other hand, it shows that you
take initiative to follow through (that is, if you follow through in fact).
All experts agree: only say you're going to follow up if you actually intend
to, and are able to, follow up with the reader.
Cover Letters: What professional recruiters advise...
Before you write:
- Give careful attention to your cover letter.
- Spend more than an hour crafting a good general letter.
- Customize your letter for yourself and for each employer.
- Research each potential employer.
- Be professional.
- Avoid risky strategies.
- Remember, your audience is a conservative profession.
- Remember, busy recruiters get 10 to 20 letters per day.
When you write:
- Keep your cover letter to one page.
- Be positive, clear, concise, flawless, and inoffensive.
- Answer any obvious questions raised by your application (e.g., geographic
connection).
- Give several weeks notice of your visit to out-of-town employers.
- Tailor your letter to any ad you are answering.
- Send all required information with your letter (e.g., resume, transcript,
references, writing sample).
- State if you are applying in confidence (e.g., you are clerking elsewhere
so phone calls should be directed to your home phone).
- If you write to an attorney in an organization that has a recruiter, cc
(copy) the recruiter.
After you write:
- Check the name, spelling, and title of the addressee (e.g., is the recruiter
an attorney?).
- Verify all current contact and address information about the organization.
- Proofread, proofread, and proofread again.
- Have a trusted friend proofread each letter.
- If you use a mail merge, triple check for glitches (e.g., check that the
inside address and body of the letter match).
- Call and follow up if you have not received any response after about 2 weeks
or so.
For second or third-year students who have clerked with firms the prior summer:
- If the answer is "yes," indicate whether you have an offer (for summer or
full time) from your prior employer.
- If you don't have an offer, include the name of person in the firm who has
agreed to act as a reference.
- Identify specific practice areas in which you have experience or training.
- Consider applying for harder-to-fill specialties.
Check Out Some Sample Cover Letters Back
to the Top
|
